Ten-man Sao Paulo extend lead in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Sao Paulo extended their lead in the Brazilian championship by beating Internacional 2-0 in a repeat of the Libertadores Cup final on Sunday

Internacional, who began the day three points behind Sao
Paulo in second place, slipped to third behind arch-rivals
Gremio, who thrashed nine-man Botafogo 4-0 with a hat-trick
from Romulo.

Flamengo striker Obina also notched three goals as his side
won 4-3 at Fortaleza to move away from the relegation zone.

Internacional beat Sao Paulo over two legs to win the
Libertadores last month but have sold four key players to
European clubs since.

Sao Paulo went ahead after only eight minutes when
Lenilson, left unmarked in the penalty area, headed in Thiago's
cross.

Former Brazil midfielder Junior added the second in the
70th minute, placing a left-foot shot beyond Clemer after
Ilsinho had pulled the ball back from the byline.

Minutes earlier, Sao Paulo had defender Alex Silva sent off
for a second bookable offence.

Sao Paulo moved on to 46 points from 23 games, four ahead
of Gremio and six clear of Internacional.

Vanderlei Luxemburgo's Santos are a further point behind in
fourth place after losing 1-0 to Ponte Preta, who won with a
late penalty earned and converted by striker Tuto after Santos
had lost possession.

Romulo got Gremio off to a flying start in Porto Alegre
when he pounced on a rebound in the seventh minute.

Botafogo squandered several chances to equalise before
capitulating in the final 20 minutes after Junior Cesar and Ale
were both sent off for bad tackles.

Romulo scored the second and fourth goals with Argentine
German Herrera finding the net in between.

Flamengo, one of six teams on 30 points, raced to a 3-0
lead at struggling Fortaleza with two goals by Obina and one
from Fabiano Olveira.

Andre Cunha and Rinaldo reduced the arrears to 3-2 before
Obina completed his hat-trick on the break.

Although Rinaldo pulled another back for the home team in
the 75th minute, they could not complete the comeback.